44 young workers were in Greece, in Chania, from 27 May to 3 June 2024. The participants were between 21 and 40 years old and all shared a desire to immerse themselves in a multi-cultural and creative environment.Retour ligne automatique
The project involved 5 EU countries. The aim was to analyse and develop reflections on the issue of exclusion and isolation of young people. Finding ways to provide help to young people was one of the most important arguments and this was achieved by carrying out various informal activities.
We asked the partecipants for their feedback:

‘’It was a unique experience. Thanks to this opportunity, I was able to meet people from different parts of the world and understand that they, like me, share the same problems but also the same dreams. In addition, I had the chance to improve my English and relate to a reality and culture different from my own.‘’ - Silvia

‘’It was my first time participating in an Erasmus and a few days after arriving in Crete, (the place chosen for this Erasmus) I asked myself: ‘Why didn’t I start sooner?!’ This experience was wonderful, because apart from testing my English and discovering that it is not necessarily necessary to have a C1 to be able to communicate with other people from different countries, I discovered that despite the cultural, linguistic differences in other countries, we actually all share the same interests, thoughts, dreams and concerns. Sometimes I felt more understood by people who did not speak my language than by those who did.
It was good to deal with issues of social exclusion/integration, but also complex, because it was tackled in English anyway. I am, however, happy to have dealt with these issues, because I never had to deal with them at school either. The activities are very nice, maybe I would add more physical activities, because I think they involve all people more. What about the possibility of travelling? In this case, to Greece… To Crete! I didn’t have the chance to visit it, but even from what little I saw, I fell madly in love with it. This experience gives you the chance to tackle social issues you would never have tackled, meet new people, shorten cultural distances, visit European countries and above all allows you to dig deeper into yourself.’’- Alessia

‘’My experience with the Erasmus programme in Chania, Greece, was a very nice experience that I would definitely do again. During this week I had the opportunity to work with young people from various countries, including Lithuania, Poland, Greece, Romania and of course Italy. The activities focused on the topic of exclusion and marginalisation of young people, as well as the skills needed by a youth worker, such as empathy. On the first day we did ice-breaking activities.
The one that impressed me the most was a kind of ‘drawn’ interview where we changed partners at every turn, an original and fun way to get to know the other participants better. Then, we collected and shared information on youth work, broadening our understanding of this important sector. On the second day, we focused on stereotypes and prejudices. One of the activities I enjoyed the most was the one on the beach, where, divided into groups, we had to identify with people with different disabilities (deaf, blind and mute) and work together to build a hole.
We also had the opportunity to interact with local people, listening to their opinions on these issues through interviews and games we had prepared. This direct contact with the local community was invaluable to better understand the realities and challenges experienced by other people as well as the thoughts of different people. The intercultural evenings were among the highlights of the week. Thanks to these, I was able to get to know and appreciate the food, traditions and customs of the various participating countries, expanding my cultural background and establishing deep bonds with other people. In conclusion, this Erasmus experience has been very enriching. It allowed me to get out of my comfort zone, to grow as a person and to make encounters that will always remain in my mind. I highly recommend everyone to participate in similar programmes, for the unique opportunity of personal and cultural enrichment they offer but also for the wonderful people you meet!’’ - Silvia

‘’I am very happy to have participated in this project. Experiences of this kind enrich life, I was lucky enough to meet and make friends with young people from social backgrounds completely different from my own. The week I spent in Chania was both fun and useful in terms of personal growth. The activities planned during the days helped to amalgamate the group, and made us reflect on important topics such as: discrimination, bullying, diversity and inclusion.’ - Marco

‘’The Youth Belong experience was really wonderful. We spent a week in Chania Camping, a beautiful campsite close to the sea, in the company of boys and girls of various other nationalities, we had a lot of fun and learned a lot about ourselves and others. The focus of the project was on working with young people, especially the most disadvantaged or discriminated against, so all the activities were about raising awareness and combating discrimination, but left a lot of room for creativity: we often worked in groups drawing, acting, writing and inventing. There was certainly no occasion for boredom, indeed, even the educational part was fun and entertaining. Without a doubt, if I had the chance, I would go back right away, because between the interesting didactic component, the fantastic location (which I fell in love with) and the strong friendships formed during the project, it is truly an opportunity not to be missed‘’ - Michelangelo

‘’I had an amazing experience during a one-week cultural exchange in Chania, Crete. The activities, both educational and recreational, were well planned and really fun. Every day was full of stimulating encounters and moments of sharing with people from different cultures. The educational activities allowed us to explore the issues of inclusion and marginalisation in an engaging way, while the fun activities offered us opportunities to have fun and bond with other participants. The beauty of Chania and the cosy atmosphere of the campsite by the sea made the whole experience even more memorable. I learnt a lot, not only about others, but also about myself, and made friendships that I will always carry in my heart. It was a unique opportunity for personal and cultural growth that I would do again without hesitation. I would highly recommend anyone to participate in a cultural exchange like this!’ - Lisa

‘’ The Youth Belong experience was truly extraordinary. We spent a week at Chania Camping, on the island of Crete, a beautiful campsite by the sea, together with young people of different nationalities. It was a fun and educational time, during which we discovered a lot about ourselves and others. The project focused on working with young people, especially those who are disadvantaged or discriminated against. All activities were aimed at raising awareness and combating discrimination, leaving plenty of room for creativity. We often worked in groups, drawing, acting, writing and inventing. The teaching was engaging and enjoyable. The combination of the interesting educational aspect, the wonderful location that I fell in love with, and the strong friendships that were formed, makes this an experience not to be missed.‘’ - Davide